U.S. military names soldiers charged in rape, murder probe

(CNN) -- The U.S. military Monday released the names of five soldiers, including two sergeants, charged in connection with the alleged rape and murder of Iraqi civilians in Mahmoudiya, Iraq.

The military said that Sgt. Paul E. Cortez, Spc. James P. Barker, Pfc. Jesse V. Spielman, and Pfc. Bryan L. Howard were charged on Saturday in connection with their alleged participation in the rape and murder of an Iraqi female, and the murders of three other family members in March.

The four could face the death penalty, military spokesman Maj. Gen. William Caldwell said at a news conference Monday.

Sgt. Anthony W. Yribe was charged with dereliction of duty, and making a false official statement "for his failure to report the rape and murder of these Iraqi civilians, but is not alleged to have been a direct participant in the rape and killings," the military said.

Caldwell, at Monday's news conference, said Yribe "was not there that day, but afterwards had some tacit knowledge."

The four others were "in the vicinity of the house that day," Caldwell said.

All five were charged over the weekend with conspiring with former Pfc. Steven D. Green to commit the crimes, the military said.

There have been conflicting reports about the alleged rape victim's age. Sunday, Reuters news agency released documents indicating that she was 14.

Reuters said identification cards and death certificates give the victim's name as Abeer Qassim Hamza al-Janabi. Her date of birth is listed as August 19, 1991.

A Justice Department affidavit says Green and other soldiers planned to rape a young woman who lived near the checkpoint they manned in Mahmoudiya.

The affidavit says three soldiers allegedly accompanied Green into the house, and another soldier was told to monitor the radio while the assault took place.

The affidavit says Green shot the woman's relatives, including a girl of about 5; raped the young woman; then fatally shot her.

Soldiers are quoted in the affidavit as telling investigators that Green and his companions then set the family's house afire, threw an AK-47 rifle used in the killings into a canal and burned their bloodstained clothing.

Green was honorably discharged from the Army before the incident came to light after being diagnosed with an unspecified personality disorder, according to court papers.

A U.S. defense official told CNN the five soldiers are still on their base in the Mahmoudiya area, have had their weapons taken away, and are being escorted everywhere they go on the base.

At his home in Huffman, Texas, just northeast of Houston, Lynn Howard was stunned by the news that his son, Bryan, was charged.

Howard said on Monday he had just learned the news from watching CNN. He was crying.

He said his son spent four years in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC), and is "a good boy."